Survival.....

Everyday Nancy and Neena set out to tackle the ugly,dark,ruthless world...
One sets out as a domestic help,helping out in daily cleanliness chores which we take for granted.While,the other heads for Janpath and lays down colourful cloth mats and covers and spreads it over the ground,with a hope of selling enough to survive for a day.Survival,which,to the privileged is an alien term and yet for others a question that haunts them everyday.

There are several migrants who leave their village/home each day,catch a train and land up in a 'CITY'.A City of hope,a city of opportunities.A city that is mystical and what they dreamt of while dozing off in Chaarpai in the protected environment of their village.But a deeper,harsh reality awaits them,when they finally make it to 'The City'.

Neena was one of them.30 years back,when she was little she set out on one such journey with her parents.Life was about survival,and hardships lay at every step.Somehow,overcoming them,she grew up,got married,had kids.To feed their tiny stomachs both husband and wife started earning.

Then,one day a tragedy struck.Husband,the auto driver lost his leg in an accident.With this,the responsibility of feeding the family rested solely on Neena's shoulders!Till date she fights with her circumstances,destiny and on few occasions the police constables,who to add to her woes,harass her and her neighbour sellers on issues of 'parchi'.[Apparently,the hawkers who sell their stuff on Janpath get this 'parchi' regularly from a committee and if few are missing in their record,then they face the threat of being told to vacate their space.]

When she narrates her agony,i can't help but ask Do you feel angry on anyone,sometimes?

And with a sigh,comes the reply God.What is sad,is the fact that it takes her a lot of thinking,when asked What makes you happy?Her happiness comes only from her children and nothing else in this world.

And then,there is Nancy.A hard working woman,who earns enough to feed her children and is usually smiling.

What went wrong with her life? Well,an alcoholic husband who although earns enough.But, spends most of his earning on alcohol, and energy in beating his wife.Nancy struggles,not as much as to earn money,rather, in saving that money from her husband's eyes.

The inference one draws from Nancy and Neena's life becomes clear when we observe the roles played by their husbands.Post accident,Neena's husband stays at home,takes care of the children and even cooks.He regrets the day he ventured out,to earn but returned with a disability stamp,which has closed all doors of future opportunities on him.

Whereas,Nancy's husband gets drunk each night and makes life difficult for his wife and children.His legs and arms are functioning fine,he has a job which pays but it seems that he takes his working body parts for granted.

In our day-to-day life.There are so many things which we take for granted.

The food,shelter,clothing.Our sound body and mind.We,crib so much about anything and everything that comes our way.We have this long list of complaints for god,So many times we hear ourselves say,"Ye mere saath hee kyun hua".We behave as if our problem is the toughest and biggest in this world.Now,Come to think of those who begin their day with prayers like:

"I wish am able to earn a little more than yesterday,am ready to do hard work for it";

"Please,god let today be that day when my kids can go to sleep with a full stomach";

"Let them not wake up and say in the middle of the night-Maa bhook lagi hain!"

Lets realise that god has given us just this 1 life,and we must not let him down.

As neena puts in,"Jab tak haath-pair chalenge,main kaam karungi,kamaungi!"